Originally Posted By BZH
1. Ace bandage - useful, but heavy and to my thinking most uses can be achieved with tape (or a cut up shirt) with little loss in function.


My experience has been otherwise. The advantage of an ace bandage, among other things, is that it provides controllable compression which can be easily adjusted - a real boon in many situations. Swelling can be a real issue and rewrapping can be required. An ace bandage will stay on a joint (knee) unlike a cut up shirt, etc. or tape. Not a problem if you don't mind adjusting the wrapping every 300 yards of so. I think I could more easily improvise a sterile dressing than anything that would give me the capabilities of an ace bandage.

One versatile piece of gear, usable in FA and many other settings is a nice big cotton bandanna. Don't leave home without it.

Again, what should be in your FAK is gear that is commensurate with your training and experience. The training is far more important than the widgets.